DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Miami University senior running back Austin Sykes should be back in the lineup, close to full throttle Wednesday night when the RedHawks face the Akron Zips at Yager Stadium.

Sykes suffered an ankle injury at Vanderbilt on Oct. 27, and although he started against Buffalo a week later, he carried only three times for 11 yards.

"Austin tried to go in the first quarter," Miami head coach Shane Montgomery said. "I just feel like he wasn't close to 100 percent, so we held him out (for the rest of the game). He should be back."

Sykes has made seven straight starts since Brandon Murphy and Andre Bratton suffered season-ending injuries. He leads the team in rushing with 438 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

Montgomery added that true freshman linebacker Ryan Kennedy is "close" to returning after injuring a knee against Temple, and that red-shirt freshman strong safety Peris Edwards will be back after missing the Buffalo game with a shoulder injury.

All-MAC expansion

More RedHawks will have a chance to earn All-Mid-American Conference honors this season thanks to a change which adds an all-league third team to the post-season honors.

"With 13 teams, it would be hard to get all-league (with just first and second teams and honorable mention), especially when you're voting on teams you haven't played against," Montgomery said. "There are a lot of guys who don't get recognized."

Home sweet home

After not winning at Yager Stadium all of last season, Miami is seeking its fourth consecutive victory at home.

The RedHawks have not won four straight at home since stringing together five straight wins in 2004.

Lights, cameras, action

Wednesday night's game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with the broadcast team of Rece Davis, who will handle the play-by-play, analysts Lou Holtz and Mark May, and sideline reporter Rob Stone.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.